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Chapter Eight

Michele

A fter giving myself an additional pep talk and doing some more breathing exercises, I head down the hall and come to a stop in front of the locker room door. I raise my hand, ready to push on the swinging door to walk in, but pause. I glance down at my watch to check the time. No one should be in the locker room besides my dad and Parker, but any of the guys could have stopped by?. I’m going to be the only female member of the Portland Timberwolves team, so I’ll need to get used to announcing myself.

“If you don’t want me to see it, cover it up. I’m coming in!” I shout, knocking on the locker room door.

I wait for a few moments, but when no one answers, I head inside. Thankfully, there are no naked hockey players running around, and I make it to my dad’s office with no issues. The door is open, as always, but I knock lightly before stepping inside.

“Hey, Daddy.”

Yes, I’m a twenty-year-old girl and still call my dad, Daddy. Not only am I the baby of the family and spoiled rotten, but calling him daddy gets me anything I want. I don’t make the rules, I just take advantage of them.

“Hey, pumpkin. What are you doing here?” Dad pushes back from his desk and strides toward me, wrapping me in a warm hug. “I thought we weren’t meeting until tonight for dinner.”

My body instantly relaxes into Dad’s arms. I bury my nose into his chest and inhale deeply. His comforting scent surrounds me, and I pull back slightly and smile. “We are, but I was in the area and wanted to stop by. It’s been forever since I’ve been able to watch you in action.”

Dad’s chocolate brown eyes shine with mirth as he smiles down at me. Coming to see Dad at the office was always my favorite thing when I was younger, so stopping by on a whim isn’t too out of character for me.

“Not much action going on here today, pumpkin. Just trying to get through all the rookies’ résumés and figure out where they might fit with the team.” Dad steps away from me and heads back around his desk, motioning for me to take a seat on the other side of his desk.

“Already? Aren’t you going to wait until training camp starts?”

“Every player will get a fair shot, but we only usually offer players we know will add something to the team.”

“Usually? Why do I feel like that was a loaded statement?”

Dad has never been someone who can hide his feelings. They’re usually written all over his face. He also doesn’t sugarcoat things. The fact that he’s even attempting to spin whatever he’s unhappy about tells me everything I need to know.

“No, nothing like that. There are just a few players joining the ranks that I haven’t vetted yet.” Dad runs his hand down his chin, tugging on his salt-and-pepper beard, his forehead wrinkling as he tries to find an answer to my question.

Dad has always prided himself on being hands-on with his team. He does his own scouting and personally reaches out to each player he brings on each season. The fact that there is someone coming to camp he didn’t have a choice in choosing is out of the ordinary.

“That’s not usual at all. At least for your teams, right?”

“Yes, and no,” he responds matter-of-factly, before quickly changing the subject. “But enough about work. How is the job searching going?”

Damn it. I was hoping to put this conversation off a little bit longer. Dad is under the impression that I am looking for a full-time position at one of the hospitals in the area since I’ve only been working part-time recently.

“Well. I actually managed to snag a position with a nice pay hike. No more hourly work for me. I just finished a meeting with human resources. I got my information packet and start date.” I fidget slightly in my seat, tucking my now-sweat-covered hands between my legs.

This isn’t technically a lie. I have a full-time position here with the team, and I’ll be on salary, as well. Telling Dad about my new job might be a lot easier than I expected.

“That’s amazing, baby girl. What hospital will you be working at?” He pauses, his eyes pulling down in concern.“You are going to remain here in town, right? You just moved back. You can’t leave again so soon.”

“I’ve been back here for almost a year, Daddy. I have no intention of going anywhere. Besides, Stacey would kill me if I left her hanging on the lease.”

“That’s my good girl.” He chuckles softly, his mouth pulling up in the corner. “So, where did you get a job? Is it at least close to here?”

“Oh, it’s close all right. Practically around the corner,” I respond noncommittally, trying to find the best way to break the news.

“That’s great. I didn’t know you were applying for a position at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital (OHSU). It's a teaching hospital and the best place to get your foot in the door to continue your education by joining the DPT program.”

“I told you I have no intention of getting my DPT, Daddy.” I sigh, already knowing where this conversation is headed. “No, I'm not working at OHSU.”

“That’s okay, pumpkin. You can always try again in a few years after you get some more time under your belt. You never want to become complacent.”

“Daddy, you don’t understand. I don’t plan on applying anywhere else. I’ve wanted to work here for years,” I say, looking everywhere but at him.

My eyes widen as I catch the slip. I said here instead of there , but my dad is too oblivious to catch it. Dad leans back in his chair, crossing his arms under the Timberwolves logo sitting in the center of his chest. He stares at me for a few moments, his eyebrows pulled down in concern as he scans my face. I can already see the disappointment in his eyes, but he doesn’t say a word, just sits waiting for me to explain, but I don’t dare. Maybe if I wait long enough, he’ll let it go, and we can just head to lunch or something. It will be easier to tell him after I have some time to think about how exactly to break the news.

“Pumpkin, you aren’t making sense. Who are you going to be working for?”

I could keep up the charade, but what’s the point? Might as well rip off the Band-Aid. Squaring my shoulders, I turn toward Dad. “Here. I’m working here, for the Timberwolves, Daddy.”

Dad's eyes widen in surprise, but he doesn’t say a word. I wait because I know the lecture and guilt trip are coming. Dad has never wanted me to work for a team, claiming I deserve better, although I never agreed with him. If this were anything else, I probably would’ve kept it a secret or not even tried to apply for the position, but this is the job I’ve been working for since I picked my major. Is it too much to ask for my dad to be happy for me?

“Say something, Daddy,” I whine, leaning forward and grasping his hand in mine, giving it a small squeeze. “The silence is killing me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he questions, pain evident in his voice.

“Because I knew you’d have an opinion on the fact that I applied.”

“I didn’t know it was a crime to want what is best for my children.”

“Daddy, we both know it's more than that.” I sigh, leaning back in the chair and crossing my arms. Suddenly, I feel defensive, as if I’ve done something wrong, but I’m not the one at fault here.

“Then please explain it to me, Michele. Because none of this makes sense to me. You are overqualified to be a member of the athletic training team with the Timberwolves.” Dad pushes back from his desk, pacing back and forth as he ticks my credentials off on his fingers. “You graduated high school with an associate's degree in biology, got a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, passed your National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) on the first try, and managed to get a Master of Physiotherapy all before your twenty-first birthday. Why in the world would you settle for working here?”

“Because it’s all I ever wanted!” I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air.

“But you deserve—” he begins, but I cut him off.

“Stop telling me what I deserve, Daddy. I just want a chance at the job of my dreams without you interfering. I wanted to win or lose it based on my own merit and not you calling in some favor.”

He doesn’t say a word, dropping down into the chair behind his desk. His usual scowl is plastered on his face. Knowing him, he’s trying to think of some way to make this go away, to interfere just as I thought he would, but there is nothing he can do about it.

I narrow my eyes as he reaches for the phone, but I beat him to it. “Don’t even think about it, Daddy. There’s nothing you can do because I’ve already accepted the position, and I’m starting next week.”

“I don’t like this, Michele.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not because it’s happening,” I respond with conviction, suddenly finding my backbone.

“I’m disappointed in you, Michele. Not only did you lie to me, but you took a job that’s beneath you. You have so much potential…”

He continues rambling, but I tune him out. This isn’t anything I haven’t heard a million times before. How disappointed he is in me for making my own decisions about my life. I’m choosing to be happy instead of following some arbitrary plan he has imagined for me. It doesn’t matter what I say to him. He won’t hear me because, as far as Dad is concerned, he’s right and I’m wrong. It doesn’t matter to him that it's my life and that I’m an adult. If this were anything else, the lecture and proceeding guilt trip would have me caving, giving up whatever I wanted to make him happy, but not this time. I’ve worked too hard to get this position, and I’m not about to give it up because Dad doesn’t approve.

“Are you listening to me, Michele?” he growls, causing me to jump in my seat.

My cheeks heat with embarrassment as I try desperately to fight the urge to give him exactly what he wants. “Yes, Daddy. But it doesn’t matter. I’m not quitting, but at least we will see each other more. Now all you have to do is walk down the hall to the training room.”

“I guess there is an upside to this,” he grumbles, his lip curling into a small smile.

I push to my feet, making my way around the desk and wrapping my arms around his neck. “Forgive me?”

If there’s one thing I know about Dad, it’s that he can hold a grudge. I might have won this battle, but this for sure won’t be the last. I’m going to need to watch my back for the next few months because I wouldn't put it past him to cause me problems before my probation period is over. He may be my dad, but he still believes that he knows what is best for my life.

“I can’t stay mad at you, baby girl.” He reaches up to give my arm a squeeze before planting a kiss on the back of my hand. “Now, Parker and Helena in human resources. Those are two people I have no problem staying mad at.”

“No, you can’t. Parker didn’t know I had interviewed until after I was offered the position.”

He unwraps my arms from around his neck and spins in the chair to face me. “You told Parker before me? I’m hurt, baby girl.”

I roll my eyes. People tell me I’m dramatic, but none of them have met my dad. “No, Daddy, I told Stacey. Stacey told Parker.”

“You know as well as I do that girl can’t keep a secret to save her soul.”

I don’t have the heart to tell him she has known during the entire process. What Daddy doesn’t know can’t hurt him, right?

“Did anyone else know before me? Your stepmother or your sisters?”

“No. No one else knows.”

He stares at me for a few moments before smiling. “Good. You can tell them at family dinner on Sunday.”

“I actually can’t make dinner on Sunday, Daddy. I have plans.”

The only plans I have this weekend are catching up on the shows on my DVR and laundry, but he doesn’t need to know that. I just lost a few months of my life, stressing about telling him about my new job. I don’t have it in me for a family sparring session in the same week.

“You can’t have plans that are more important than spending time with your family,” he responds, leaving no room for argument.

I knew he gave in about the job too easily. I could suggest we get together next weekend, but judging by the look on his face, that won’t work. “No. You’re right. What time is dinner?”

Dad pushes to his feet and plants a kiss on my forehead before throwing his arm over my shoulder, pulling me into his side. “That’s my girl. We’re going to do an early dinner, so you can come over around three. I’ll ask your mother to make something special so we can celebrate your new position.”

I open my mouth to argue with him that his current wife, Jessica, is in fact not my mother, but I decide against it. He has been trying to erase my mother’s memory for years, especially after what she did, but that doesn’t mean his wives can replace her. This isn’t the first time he has referred to her as my mother, and it won’t be the last. But ?today, it bothers me more than usual. However, instead of starting another argument, I let it go.

“Thanks, Daddy.” I sigh, giving his waist a small squeeze before stepping out of his embrace.

There’s a soft knock on the door before someone steps inside. “Hey, Coach—oh, shit. I mean damn. I mean, I’m sorry. I can come back later.”

Dad and I laugh loudly at the large hockey player’s embarrassment. “What do you need, Hendrix?”

My ears perk up, eyes scanning the man’s face, but I don’t find who I’m looking for. My dad’s guest isn’t Cole, unfortunately, which means it must be Cooper and Beau. He looks a lot like Cole, with only a few slight differences, telling me there’s no mistaking that these two are brothers. However, he doesn’t look much like Kyle either, although I can see the family resemblance.

“I just wanted to chat with you about something,” he responds, his eyes flicking to mine before going right back to Dad. “But I can see you’re busy.”

“No need to leave on my account. I was just heading out.”

“No, it’s not important. I’ll leave you and…”

“If you wanted an introduction, you could’ve asked,” Dad grumbles, causing both of us to laugh loudly. “Pumpkin, this is Cooper Hendrix, the captain and star player of the team.”

“Hi, pumpkin. It’s nice to meet you.” Cooper smiles, holding his hand out for me to shake.

“No, my name is Michele. Only one L. Daddy here just chooses not to use the name he and my mother chose for me,” I quip, grasping his hand and shaking it.

“You’ll always be my pumpkin, Michele.”

Dad smiles proudly, putting himself between Cooper and me, causing me to drop my hand to my side.

Cooper takes it all in stride, smiling brightly at Dad's antics. “It doesn’t get any easier as you get older. My mother still calls me and my three brothers her baby boys.”

“Bless her heart! It couldn’t have been easy for her to raise four boys.”

“We put her through hell, that’s for sure.” Cooper chuckles, turning his attention back to Dad. “I can see you’re busy, Coach. I’ll come back later. It's nothing important.”

“Is this about your brother?” he questions, his eyes narrowing slightly.

I have a feeling that Cole is the player Dad wasn’t too fond of being added to the incoming roster for the coming season. I don’t know anything about Cole as a player, but he must have done something pretty bad to get on my dad’s bad side before the start of practices.

“Yes, Coach.” Cooper pauses for a moment, his eyes flicking toward me before continuing. “I’ve heard the guys talking. Yes, I called in a favor with the owner to get my brother out of a pinch, but I don’t expect him to be given a free ride. Ride him as hard as the rest of us.”

“Not that I need your permission to run my team how I see fit, but I’m glad to know you feel that way. Whether he’s your brother or not, he’ll be put through the paces. If I find him lacking, not even you can save him. Are we clear, Hendrix?”

“Crystal. Thanks for your time.” Cooper nods his head before flashing me a megawatt smile. “It was nice meeting you, Michele, with one L, not two.”

“Nice meeting you, too, Cooper.” I smile before turning toward my dad and kissing him softly on the cheek. “And on that note, I’m going to head home, too.”

“If you’re going my way, let me escort you to your car.” Cooper crocks his elbow, holding it in my direction.

I giggle softly, threading my arm through his. “Thank you, kind sir.”

“Do I need to make a phone call, Hendrix? I don’t think your fiancée would take too kindly to you flirting with my daughter.” Dad makes a show of grabbing the receiver, causing Cooper to laugh loudly. He removes my arm from the crook of his elbow and takes a step away from me for good measure.

“I guess there’s someone your players are more afraid of than you, Daddy.” I snicker as Daddy rolls his eyes at my antics.

“You have no idea, Michele. Coach can be terrifying for sure, but there is nothing scarier than my Beauty when she’s in one of her moods.”

“I may just have to meet her. Anyone who can scare someone more than my dad is someone worth knowing.”

“Hang around this place enough and you’re bound to run into her.”

“Stop flirting with my baby girl, Hendrix,” Dad grumbles, dropping into his chair and reaching for his phone a second time.

“Stop it, Daddy. Every male who is nice to me isn’t flirting.”

“Your daughter’s right, Coach. Just want to make sure she gets to her car safely. There are some very unruly hockey players in the locker room. I don’t want to fear for her safety.”

Dad seems to think about this for a few moments before nodding his head in confirmation and motioning toward his office door. “Make sure my daughter gets to her car safely. If one hair is harmed on her head, you’ll be skating laps until your wedding day.”

“Got it, Coach.” Copper gives him a mock salute before motioning for me to head out in front of him.

“I’ll see you on Sunday.” I wave at Daddy over my shoulder, turning to follow Cooper out of his office.

“See you Sunday, pumpkin. Don’t be late,” he scolds as I walk out the door.

Telling Daddy about my new job was the easy part. The next step is braving family dinner. Wish me luck because I’m going to need it.